For Immediate Release: 3/18/2023 11:51 am
It is with a heavy heart that we mourn the loss of Worcester Police Sergeant Derrick Leto.
Sgt. Leto was a 18-year veteran of the department. He was the department’s Diversity Officer. In this role he lead our Recruiting Team and worked hard to strengthen our diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. This past year alone, Sgt. Leto successfully started the department’s first Cadet Program and Explorer’s Program. These two programs aim to recruit candidates from underrepresented communities, including people of color and women. Sgt. Leto’s impacts on the department and our neighborhoods were far reaching as he served as a role model for countless young people in the community. He frequently volunteered at many institutions across the City including the Second Baptist Church and the Friendly House.
“Sgt. Leto had a passion for providing youth with opportunities,” said Chief Sargent. “He made a difference in our department, City and community and worked hard to make our visions a reality. Sgt. Leto made great strides in creating unity among the police and community groups and partners. I will be forever grateful for his service to the citizens of Worcester who he deeply cared about. He will be dearly missed… we are heartbroken.”
Sgt. Leto served as a Marine prior to becoming a police officer. He spoke about his journey to become a police officer at a variety of schools, churches, colleges and institutions. Sgt. Leto inspired everyone from strangers he did not know to our brothers and sisters here at the Worcester police department.
We ask you to please keep Sgt. Leto’s wife and two children in your thoughts and prayers along with his City family.
